Hunting tree stand

ABSTRACT

A hunting tree stand is disclosed. The hunting tree stand includes a backbone configured to be secured to a tree, an inner radial support beam having a generally arc shape, and a plurality of cantilevered supports extending outwards from the inner radial support beam. In addition, the hunting tree stand includes a pair of adjustment plates disposed on a respective proximate end of the plurality of cantilevered supports and configured to be secured to opposing sides of a lower end of the backbone. A plurality of adjustment apertures are disposed in a curvilinear pattern on the pair of adjustment plates, where the plurality of adjustment apertures are positioned so that an angle of a decking to the backbone can be adjusted relative to the backbone by rotating the decking downwards or upwards and inserting an adjustment pin through a desired adjustment aperture and the lower end of the backbone.

I. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/868,176 filed Aug. 21, 2013. The disclosure of the provisionalapplication is incorporated herein by reference.

II. FIELD

The present disclosure is generally related to a hunting tree stand.

III. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Hunting tree stands are often used for deer hunting. The tree stand iscarried into the woods and secured off the ground to a tree trunk. Theelevated platform of the tree stand allows a hunter to stand or sitwhile waiting for game to approach and to have a good vantage point.

There are many different types of tree stands that are presentlyavailable in the marketplace. One such type of tree stand is designed tobe supported on the side of the tree trunk in cantilevered fashion. Theexisting tree stands that are cantilevered out from the tree typicallyuse complex and cumbersome mounting arrangements in an effort to providea safe and stable platform for the hunter. However, such stands aregenerally unstable and unsafe when the hunter is moving around inposition for a shot. In addition, the cantilevered hunting stands arerelatively expensive and not easily transported by the hunter.

For example, the existing cantilevered stands include a horizontalplatform that is supported on the tree trunk by chains and large spikes.The platform is held against the tree trunk by hooking one link of achain to one side of the back portion of the platform and another linkof the same chain to the other side of the platform. The large spikesare driven into the tree trunk to keep the platform from slipping downthe tree. However, a shortcoming of that type of tree stand is, amongother things, that pounding large spikes into the tree trunk isdetrimental to the tree. Further, the hunting tree stand requires arelatively straight tree trunk otherwise the platform will be leaningmaking it uncomfortable and unsafe for the hunter.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a cantilevered hunting treestand that is easy to adjust and install on leaning trees withoutcausing damage to the tree and where the hunting stand includes a widesupport platform for increased field of vision for the hunter.

However, in view of the prior art at the time the present invention wasmade, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent arthow the identified needs could be fulfilled.

IV. SUMMARY

In a particular illustrative embodiment, a hunting tree stand isdisclosed. The tree stand includes a backbone configured to be securedto a tree, an inner radial support beam having a generally arc shape,and a plurality of cantilevered supports extending outwards from theinner radial support beam. In addition, the hunting tree stand includesa pair of adjustment plates disposed on a respective proximate end ofthe plurality of cantilevered supports and configured to be secured toopposing sides of a lower end of the backbone. A decking is secured overthe plurality of cantilevered supports, where the decking provides asurface for a hunter to stand. The hunting tree stand also includes aplurality of adjustment apertures disposed in a curvilinear pattern onthe pair of adjustment plates, where the plurality of adjustmentapertures are positioned so that an angle of the decking to the backbonecan be adjusted relative to the backbone by rotating the deckingdownwards or upwards and inserting an adjustment pin through a desiredadjustment aperture and the lower end of the backbone.

Other aspects, advantages, and features of the present disclosure willbecome apparent after review of the entire application, including thefollowing sections: Brief Description of the Drawings and DetailedDescription.

V. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a particular illustrative embodiment ofa hunting tree stand installed on a tree trunk;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the hunting tree stand;

FIG. 3 is top view of the hunting tree stand;

FIG. 4 is a partial detail view of a seat assembly of the hunting treestand;

FIG. 5 is a partial rear view illustrating a backbone of the huntingtree stand;

FIG. 6 is a partial top view of the hunting tree stand;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view illustrating the hunting tree stand movingfrom an installed position to a storage position;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a railing installed on the hunting treestand;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a particular illustrative embodiment ofthe hunting tree stand with an adjustable seat post;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the hunting tree stand shown in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a partial top view of the hunting tree stand shown in FIG.10.

VI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A first particular illustrative embodiment of a hunting tree stand isdisclosed in

FIG. 1 and generally designated 100. The hunting tree stand 100 isadapted to be installed on various sizes of trees 102. In particular,the tree stand 100 is installed elevated off the ground to provide avantage point for a hunter. Accordingly, the hunting stand 100 needs tobe very secure to prevent the hunter from accidentally falling off thestand 100. Further, the hunting tree stand 100 is intended to provideincreased vision for the hunter by having the decking 104 extending 180degrees around the tree 102. However, in alternative embodiments, thedecking 104 may be increased to be all the way around the tree 102 orless than 180 degrees.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the decking 104 is supported by a plurality ofcantilevered structural members that radiate generally out from abackbone 100 secured to the tree 102. In a particular embodiment, thecantilevered structural members include a pair of assemblies ofstructural supports, where each assembly is disposed on opposing sidesof the backbone 110. For example, each assembly may include a sidesupport member 106 that is generally perpendicular to a front supportmember 124, and a middle support member 108 is disposed at a generallyforty-five degree angle between side support member 106 and the frontsupport member 124. The combination of the decking 104 and supportmembers 106, 108, 124 is referred herein as the platform for the huntingtree stand 100. The decking 104 is supported solely by the cantileveredsupports.

The backbone 110 may be secured to the tree 102 using an upper strap 112and a lower strap 114. In use, one end of the straps 112, 114 aresecured to one end of the backbone 110 using a S-hook, for example, anda second end of the straps 112, 114 is wrapped around the tree 102 andsecured to the opposing side of the backbone 110. Adjustment plates 150are disposed on a proximate end of each of the front support members124. At a lower end of the adjustment plates 150 is a pin 154 thatallows the platform to rotate relative to the backbone 110. In addition,a plurality of adjustment apertures 160 are disposed in a curvilinearpattern on the adjustment plates 150, where the plurality of adjustmentapertures 160 are positioned so that an angle of the decking 104 to thebackbone 110 can be adjusted relative to the backbone 110 by rotatingthe decking 104 (or platform) downwards or upwards and inserting anadjustment pin 152 through a desired adjustment aperture 160 and thelower end of the backbone 110.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the position of the support members 106, 108,124 relative to one another is shown. The support members 106, 108, 124radiate from an inner radial support beam 128 having a generally arcshape outwards to an outer radial support 126, which has a largerdiameter than the inner radial support beam 128. An end support 130secures the respective ends of the inner radial support beam 128 and theouter radial support beam 126 to each other. The seat 120 has a similarshape to the structure of the platform.

The seat 120 shown in FIG. 4 is configured to rotate about a seat hinge132 that allows the seat to be rotated up and over the seat post 118 toa rear side of the backbone 110 to be folded and stowed. In use, a seatstop 134 serves the hold the seat 120 in a generally horizontal plane.The height of the seat 120 relative to the decking 104 is adjusted usinga plurality of seat height adjustment apertures 136 disposed on the seatpost 118. The decking 104 and/or seat 120 may be comprised of diamondmesh or other suitable material. The seat post 118 is moved to thedesired height within seat sleeve 116 and a seat height pin 138 isinserted through the seat height adjustment aperture 136 to hold theseat 120 at the desired height. Also shown in FIG. 4 is a pair of upperstrap tabs 140 that extend out from the backbone 110. The upper straptab 140 includes a strap aperture 142 that allows an S-hook to beinserted through to hold the backbone 110 to the tree 102 as describedabove. A similar strap tab is included on an opposing side of thebackbone 110 in addition to a pair of lower strap tabs 146 are similarlyincluded on the lower end of the backbone 110.

A partial rear view of the hunting tree stand 100 is shown in FIGS. 5and 6, which illustrates a location of upper tree spikes 144 and lowertree spikes 148 disposed on a rear side of the backbone 110. The treespikes 144, 148 allow the backbone 110 to grip the tree 102 as a hunteris standing on the decking 104 and a force is applied to the straps 112,114 on an opposing side of the tree 102.

The hunting tree stand 100 is configured to be folded flat to be storedand easily transported. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the seat 120 isrotated up and over the backbone 110 using seat hinge 132 so that itlays flat against the backbone 110. Then the adjustment pin 152 can beremoved so that the backbone 110 can rotate about pin 154 and be foldedup and under the decking 104 so that the tree stand 100 is folded flat.To assemble the tree stand, the above steps are reversed so that thetree stand 100 can be installed on the tree 102.

An additional feature of the tree stand is shown in FIG. 8, where theouter radial support 126 may include a plurality of pole receivers 156for receiving a plurality of vertical poles 158. The poles areconfigured to support a top railing 160, where the top railing may beused as an additional safety feature and also for draping camouflagematerial to further conceal the hunter in the tree stand 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-11, the hunting tree stand may include a seatadjustment plate 160 secured to the seat post 116. A plurality of seatadjustment apertures 162 are disposed in a curvilinear pattern on theseat adjustment plate 160 so than an angle of the seat 120 relative tothe backbone 110 can be adjusted by rotating the seat post 116 downwardsor upwards about seat post pin 164 and inserting a seat adjustment pin166 through a desired seat adjustment aperture 162.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of the variousembodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a completedescription of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systemsthat utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many otherembodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from thedisclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Accordingly, the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded asillustrative rather than restrictive.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hunting tree stand, the hunting tree standcomprising: a backbone configured to be secured to a tree; an innerradial support beam having a generally arc shape rotatably secured tothe backbone; a plurality of cantilevered supports extending outwardsfrom the inner radial support beam; a pair of adjustment plates disposedon a respective proximate end of the plurality of cantilevered supportsand configured to be secured to opposing sides of a lower end of thebackbone; a decking secured over the plurality of cantilevered supports,wherein the decking provides a surface for a hunter to stand; and aplurality of adjustment apertures disposed in a curvilinear pattern onthe pair of adjustment plates, wherein the plurality of adjustmentapertures are positioned so that an angle of the decking to the backbonecan be adjusted relative to the backbone by rotating the deckingdownwards or upwards and inserting an adjustment pin through a desiredadjustment aperture and the lower end of the backbone.
 2. The huntingtree stand of claim 1, the decking extending substantially completelyaround the tree.
 3. The hunting tree stand of claim 1, the deckingextending half way around the tree.
 4. The hunting tree stand of claim1, the decking extending a portion around the tree.
 5. The hunting treestand of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pole supportsconfigured to form a railing around the decking, wherein the railing canbe used for draping camouflage therefrom.
 6. The hunting tree stand ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of cantilevered supports having a middlesupport disposed approximately 45 degrees between a side support memberand a front support member.
 7. The hunting tree stand of claim 1,further comprising: a seat; a seat post configured to support the seat;and a seat sleeve configured for the seat post to slide therein.
 8. Thehunting tree stand of claim 7, wherein the seat post is configured torotate around and lay flat against a rear side of the backbone and thebackbone is configured to rotate around and lay flat against thedecking.
 9. The hunting tree stand of claim 7, further comprising a seatadjustment plate, wherein a plurality of seat adjustment apertures aredisposed in a curvilinear pattern on the seat adjustment plate so thanan angle of the seat relative to the backbone can be adjusted byrotating the seat post downwards or upwards and inserting a seatadjustment pin through a desired seat adjustment aperture.
 10. Thehunting tree stand of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of treespikes disposed on the rear side of the backbone and configured to gripthe tree.
 11. The hunting tree stand of claim 7, further comprising: apair of upper strap tabs that extend outwards from a rear side of thebackbone, wherein each upper strap tab having an aperture configured toreceive an end of an upper strap used to secure the upper strap aroundthe tree; and a pair of lower strap tabs that extend outwards from thebackbone, wherein each lower strap tab having an aperture configured toreceive an end of lower strap used to secure the lower strap around thetree.
 12. The hunting tree stand of claim 7, the seat post furthercomprising a plurality of seat height adjustment apertures so that aheight of the seat can be adjusted by moving the seat post upwards ordownwards within the seat sleeve and inserting a seat height adjustmentpin.
 13. The hunting tree stand of claim 7, further comprising a seatstop configured to hold the seat in a horizontal orientation.
 14. Ahunting tree stand, the hunting tree stand comprising: a backboneconfigured to be secured to a tree; a plurality of cantilevered supportsextending outwards from the backbone; and a decking secured over theplurality of cantilevered supports, wherein the decking provides asurface for a hunter to stand; wherein the decking is supported solelyby the plurality of cantilevered supports.
 15. The hunting tree stand ofclaim 14, further comprising: a plurality of adjustment aperturesdisposed in a curvilinear pattern, wherein the plurality of adjustmentapertures are positioned so that an angle of the decking to the backbonecan be adjusted relative to the backbone by rotating the deckingdownwards or upwards and inserting an adjustment pin through a desiredadjustment aperture and a lower end of the backbone; and a seatextending upwards from the decking.
 16. The hunting tree stand of claim15, wherein the seat is configured to rotate around and lay flat againsta rear side of the backbone and the backbone is configured to rotatearound and lay flat against the decking.
 17. The hunting tree stand ofclaim 16, further comprising a seat adjustment plate, wherein aplurality of seat adjustment apertures are disposed in a curvilinearpattern on the seat adjustment plate so than an angle of the seatrelative to the backbone can be adjusted by rotating the seat downwardsor upwards and inserting a seat adjustment pin through a desired scatadjustment aperture.
 18. The hunting tree stand of claim 17, furthercomprising a strap configured to secure the backbone to the tree. 19.The hunting tree stand of claim 18, further comprising a plurality oftree spikes disposed on the rear side of the backbone and configured togrip the tree.
 20. A hunting tree stand, the hunting tree standcomprising: a backbone configured to be secured to a tree: an innerradial support beam having a generally arc shape rotatably secured tothe backbone; a plurality of cantilevered supports extending outwardsfrom the inner radial support beam; a pair of adjustment plates disposedon a respective proximate end of the plurality of cantilevered supportsand configured to be secured to opposing sides of a lower end of thebackbone; a decking secured over the plurality of cantilevered supports,wherein the decking provides a surface for a hunter to stand; aplurality of adjustment apertures disposed in a curvilinear pattern onthe pair of adjustment plates, wherein the plurality of adjustmentapertures are positioned so that an angle of the decking to the backbonecan be adjusted relative to the backbone by rotating the deckingdownwards or upwards and inserting an adjustment pin through a desiredadjustment aperture and the lower end of the backbone; a plurality ofpole supports configured to form a railing around the decking, whereinthe railing can be used for draping camouflage therefrom; a seatsupported by a seat post, wherein the seat post is configured to slidewithin a seat post secured to the backbone; and a seat adjustment plate,wherein a plurality of seat adjustment apertures are disposed in acurvilinear pattern on the seat adjustment plate so than an angle of theseat relative to the backbone can be adjusted by rotating the seat postdownwards or upwards and inserting a seat adjustment pin through adesired seat adjustment aperture; wherein the seat post is configured torotate around and lay flat against a rear side of the backbone and thebackbone is configured to rotate around and lay flat against thedecking.